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Crossed (Collected Editions) #4
Crossed, Vol. 4: Badlands
Top horror authors Garth Ennis and Jamie Delano tell tales of desperate survivors in a world overrun by psychopaths (think The Walking Dead meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre)!
Two tales of terror from the most vicious landscape in modern horror, written by groundbreaking graphic novelists Garth Ennis and Jamie Delano! When the worldwide outbreak transforms most of humanity into murderous psychopaths, the uninfected survivors are driven by desperation to the very brink of sanity and morality. In the United Kingdom, a young man devastated by the traumatic death of his wife struggles to survive the roving bands of Crossed at his heels. Meanwhile, three small groups of survivors in the marshy Florida Everglades – haunted by personal demons, driven by primal fears and all-too-human desires – find themselves on a collision course guaranteed to leave bloody, fiery destruction in their wake. Collects issues #1 - 9 of Crossed: Badlands series.
Two tales of terror from the most vicious landscape in modern horror, written by groundbreaking graphic novelists Garth Ennis and Jamie Delano! When the worldwide outbreak transforms most of humanity into murderous psychopaths, the uninfected survivors are driven by desperation to the very brink of sanity and morality. In the United Kingdom, a young man devastated by the traumatic death of his wife struggles to survive the roving bands of Crossed at his heels. Meanwhile, three small groups of survivors in the marshy Florida Everglades – haunted by personal demons, driven by primal fears and all-too-human desires – find themselves on a collision course guaranteed to leave bloody, fiery destruction in their wake. Collects issues #1 - 9 of Crossed: Badlands series.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2012
11 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,630 books3,186 followersEnnis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
January 3, 2021
A volume composed of 2 stories, both focusing on bad people's Crossed stories. The first, Garth Ennis tales follows a very selfish self centred former bookshop owner who looks to survive the horror of the Crossed by always looking to ditch the weak, vulnerable and overbearing. The second story is pretty out there as it features an entire cast of unlikable people looking to survive the horrors of the Crossed event. Interesting tales, although with little greater meaning. 8 out of 12.
August 31, 2016
Volume 4 is a standalone volume, like I assume the rest of the volumes are in this series. at this point I'll probably only be reading the volumes written by Ennis (or other authors who I know can deliver quality writing), because the premise of the Crossed series - humans changed into demented sadists and killers who stalk, rape, mutilate, and murder the unchanged - really has the potential to bring out the worst in writers.
4 stars for the first story "Badlands", written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Jacen Burrows. this was excellent. Ennis manages to put all of his despairing ideas on the page with a minimum of self-indulgence. the story follows a small band of survivors in the Scottish highlands as they flee the "Crossed" and decide who amongst them should stay in the group. Ennis' past themes around making difficult, alienating, unempathetic choices in order to survive are encapsulated beautifully in this grim and sardonic tale. those themes were all over the place in the first volume of this series, but Ennis has since streamlined his storytelling and improved the delivery of his message, and "Badlands" is clearly superior to that first work. repulsive shock scenes still occur - this is Crossed after all - but in this case the worst of them (the graphic death of an infant) feels organic to the plot rather than just existing as an in-your-face point being made about audience complacency. the top-notch art by Burrows is stark and visceral. the cast features Prince Harry (!) - who looks really terrible post-apocalypse - and whose inclusion is an odd decision but doesn't harm the story in the least.
unfortunately, "Badlands" is only about one-fifth of the book.
2 stars for the second and much lengthier story "Homo Superior". the writer, Jamie Delano, certainly knows a thing or two about pacing and suspense, I'll give him that. and his ending is also interestingly grim and sardonic (although the same exact message was done better in the prior story). frustratingly, all the excellent pacing and suspense only serve to highlight how the story reads like it was envisioned by a horny, repressed gorehound approximately 13 years in age. it's like lower tier Richard Layman, with art that is reminiscent of but inferior to Burrow's art. sigh.
4 stars for the first story "Badlands", written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Jacen Burrows. this was excellent. Ennis manages to put all of his despairing ideas on the page with a minimum of self-indulgence. the story follows a small band of survivors in the Scottish highlands as they flee the "Crossed" and decide who amongst them should stay in the group. Ennis' past themes around making difficult, alienating, unempathetic choices in order to survive are encapsulated beautifully in this grim and sardonic tale. those themes were all over the place in the first volume of this series, but Ennis has since streamlined his storytelling and improved the delivery of his message, and "Badlands" is clearly superior to that first work. repulsive shock scenes still occur - this is Crossed after all - but in this case the worst of them (the graphic death of an infant) feels organic to the plot rather than just existing as an in-your-face point being made about audience complacency. the top-notch art by Burrows is stark and visceral. the cast features Prince Harry (!) - who looks really terrible post-apocalypse - and whose inclusion is an odd decision but doesn't harm the story in the least.
unfortunately, "Badlands" is only about one-fifth of the book.
2 stars for the second and much lengthier story "Homo Superior". the writer, Jamie Delano, certainly knows a thing or two about pacing and suspense, I'll give him that. and his ending is also interestingly grim and sardonic (although the same exact message was done better in the prior story). frustratingly, all the excellent pacing and suspense only serve to highlight how the story reads like it was envisioned by a horny, repressed gorehound approximately 13 years in age. it's like lower tier Richard Layman, with art that is reminiscent of but inferior to Burrow's art. sigh.
October 4, 2017
First story by Ennis and Burrows is a 4 (almost 5) stars one (the guy claiming to be Prince Harry and leaving you in doubt he was him for real was just 100% pure greatness Ennis style).
Sadly it was just one third of the volume long and second story by Delano and Rizzo was just not as good as the previous one, too much surreal and similar to Lapham's 2nd and 3rd volumes of the series (that I really hated).
Meh :/
May 29, 2017
This series continues to be excellent in its own sick way.
In this volume we have two separate stories. In the first one, original series creators Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows tell a story set in the snowy highlands of Scotland. The second story is by Jamie Delano and set in humid florida. The Scotland series isn't bad, but the Florida story is longer and more fleshed out. We have a meth lab run by white supremacists, two spoiled but hot teenage twins, and a sort of couple consisting of a burn out dude and a nutty but also hot female ex soldier. Mix them all together with a horde of the Crossed and you have an interesting story.
This is a very cynical series, as even most of the still human characters are degenerates. This series does have some hot characters and shows some sexy nudity rather than just the gross nudity of the other volumes. I think I may be getting a little jaded because the violence isn't shocking me as much, but then again things haven't gotten quite as graphic as in the first few volumes either.
I'll probably sound like a broken record before I'm done reviewing this series, but once again you had a compelling story with great art with the graphic violence being an afterthought. This series is just hard to put down!
In this volume we have two separate stories. In the first one, original series creators Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows tell a story set in the snowy highlands of Scotland. The second story is by Jamie Delano and set in humid florida. The Scotland series isn't bad, but the Florida story is longer and more fleshed out. We have a meth lab run by white supremacists, two spoiled but hot teenage twins, and a sort of couple consisting of a burn out dude and a nutty but also hot female ex soldier. Mix them all together with a horde of the Crossed and you have an interesting story.
This is a very cynical series, as even most of the still human characters are degenerates. This series does have some hot characters and shows some sexy nudity rather than just the gross nudity of the other volumes. I think I may be getting a little jaded because the violence isn't shocking me as much, but then again things haven't gotten quite as graphic as in the first few volumes either.
I'll probably sound like a broken record before I'm done reviewing this series, but once again you had a compelling story with great art with the graphic violence being an afterthought. This series is just hard to put down!
March 30, 2017
After the balls out grossness, goriness of the last two volumes GE seems almost muted.
May 3, 2022
The first entry in this volume was a phenomenal story filled with all sorts of moral dilemmas and drama. That would've gotten a 4/5 from me, but the second story was so silly and pulpy that it brought down my overall opinion of the volume down to a 3/5.
March 26, 2018
There’s two stories. The first one takes place in Scotland, following the cliché pattern of the series. A group of survivors walk together as one narrator (Ian Cowley) tells us how they ended up together. Stuck with a pregnant lady (the sole female in the group), they’re stuck moving at a slow pace. This is where the conflict comes from. Not much action from the Crossed side. But rather more on human conflict.
The second story features more characters. Unrelated to begin with, but they ended up crossing paths. This one had plenty of gore and unnecessary nudity. Why did the girls have to be naked all the time?
Unlike previous volumes, a common theme I’ve noticed here is that the survivors actually embraced their doom. Some even walk right into it willingly. Kinda disappointing after all the struggle they put in. So what was the point of it all in the first place?
The second story features more characters. Unrelated to begin with, but they ended up crossing paths. This one had plenty of gore and unnecessary nudity. Why did the girls have to be naked all the time?
Unlike previous volumes, a common theme I’ve noticed here is that the survivors actually embraced their doom. Some even walk right into it willingly. Kinda disappointing after all the struggle they put in. So what was the point of it all in the first place?
August 17, 2022
Not surprisingly, the stronger story comes from Garth Ennis. His entry of Badlands is fleshed out really well. Homo Superior, (Not the Mutants) by Jamie Delano is not as good, but still adds an interesting wrinkle focusing on the swamps in Florida.
January 22, 2014
Maybe I've reached saturation point with Crossed, as there was little I found surprising or shocking, disturbing or outlandish in this first collection of the Badlands volumes. I'd been hoping that Ennis' return would propel the series out of the quagmire Psychopath had left it in. To be fair, his story was vastly superior to the longer, more detailed one by Delano, yet neither offered anything new or exciting. Just more of the same: group of characters are introduced, group gets picked off one by one, while meanwhile the survivors move, seemingly inexorably, toward their destined fates.
Unless the next volume manages to offer some variation, it will be time for me to put aside the universe of Crossed and seek my edgier thrills elsewhere.
Recommended for the ongoing hardcore fans only.
2 Never Ending Swamps for Crossed: Badlands.
Unless the next volume manages to offer some variation, it will be time for me to put aside the universe of Crossed and seek my edgier thrills elsewhere.
Recommended for the ongoing hardcore fans only.
2 Never Ending Swamps for Crossed: Badlands.
November 22, 2021
(Zero spoiler review)
I just turned the final page on this a few moments ago, and this was definitely a tale of two stories. It was good to have a more restrained and considered take from Gareth Ennis to open this one up. After the ridiculously over the top and disappointing volume 3 from Lapham, having Ennis deliver a more restrained, more human and slightly more believable take on the Crossed world was most welcome. It certainly restored some of my earlier enthusiasm for the series, again, after Lapham's ludicrous third arc. Sadly this more grounded take was quickly disrupted with the second story from Jamie Delano. to quickly get the art out of the way, it was fine, No complaints at all. Its a strength of the series that the numerous artists that work across this series all have a similar style, so this helps greatly to keep the flow and familiarity. Unfortunately, Delano is all over the place like a monkey with an upset tummy. Occasionally this is engagingly written. Some of the time, the writing is competent. More of than I would like, the writing is sub par, and that is me being somewhat kind. Delano's overall narrative could have been a very interesting story, but too often he just wants to go C grade cheese, with some very cardboard cut outs for characters, that somehow manage to get more wooden, more troupey as the story continues. The main pro/antagonist (as its rather ambiguous) is just plain awful, as much in execution as their character in general. Her ambiguity could have been interesting to explore, should the writer have more competently tackle the themes and encounters within the story, but sadly, see cheesy troupes and C grade horror. It's a shame that Ennis's decent, although certainly not perfect story was dragged down by Delano's offering. I've read two Crossed stories in two days, and I could well do with a break from it. Hopefully volume 5 will be a stronger, more clinical offering whenever I get around to it. 3.25/5
OmniBen.
I just turned the final page on this a few moments ago, and this was definitely a tale of two stories. It was good to have a more restrained and considered take from Gareth Ennis to open this one up. After the ridiculously over the top and disappointing volume 3 from Lapham, having Ennis deliver a more restrained, more human and slightly more believable take on the Crossed world was most welcome. It certainly restored some of my earlier enthusiasm for the series, again, after Lapham's ludicrous third arc. Sadly this more grounded take was quickly disrupted with the second story from Jamie Delano. to quickly get the art out of the way, it was fine, No complaints at all. Its a strength of the series that the numerous artists that work across this series all have a similar style, so this helps greatly to keep the flow and familiarity. Unfortunately, Delano is all over the place like a monkey with an upset tummy. Occasionally this is engagingly written. Some of the time, the writing is competent. More of than I would like, the writing is sub par, and that is me being somewhat kind. Delano's overall narrative could have been a very interesting story, but too often he just wants to go C grade cheese, with some very cardboard cut outs for characters, that somehow manage to get more wooden, more troupey as the story continues. The main pro/antagonist (as its rather ambiguous) is just plain awful, as much in execution as their character in general. Her ambiguity could have been interesting to explore, should the writer have more competently tackle the themes and encounters within the story, but sadly, see cheesy troupes and C grade horror. It's a shame that Ennis's decent, although certainly not perfect story was dragged down by Delano's offering. I've read two Crossed stories in two days, and I could well do with a break from it. Hopefully volume 5 will be a stronger, more clinical offering whenever I get around to it. 3.25/5
OmniBen.
January 10, 2022
Wow!! I should have started with this volume.
First of all, no rape. Not a one, unless you count Crossed fucking each other. That was a nice bonus.
What we get here are some dark stories of humans losing their souls. It’s grim, depressing and pretty much every character is unlikeable. No happy endings in the crossed world.
The stories are compelling, though. I couldn’t stop reading. Garth has a gift for finding that sick, revolting and miserable shit that we all still need to see. It’s weird.
This isn’t nice, and it’s still as disgusting as any other volume, but the stories are really good, and NO RAPE. So… yea, skip Vol 1-3 and start here.
First of all, no rape. Not a one, unless you count Crossed fucking each other. That was a nice bonus.
What we get here are some dark stories of humans losing their souls. It’s grim, depressing and pretty much every character is unlikeable. No happy endings in the crossed world.
The stories are compelling, though. I couldn’t stop reading. Garth has a gift for finding that sick, revolting and miserable shit that we all still need to see. It’s weird.
This isn’t nice, and it’s still as disgusting as any other volume, but the stories are really good, and NO RAPE. So… yea, skip Vol 1-3 and start here.
January 10, 2018
Weeeeeell, this is so much better than the previous (psycho) volume..
A lot of excitement, and definitely more tension in this one...
Second: Characters were very interesting.
Finally: great artwork..
Really was racing through this one.. If Garth keeps up this pace, I'll be knee deep into Badlands soon enough..
A lot of excitement, and definitely more tension in this one...
Second: Characters were very interesting.
Finally: great artwork..
Really was racing through this one.. If Garth keeps up this pace, I'll be knee deep into Badlands soon enough..
September 18, 2022
Something endearing about the unlikeability of the Florida cast of characters. But it seems most Crossed characters are unlikeable, as if it’s true that only cockroaches survive.
February 13, 2017
The first story is totally worth it for the ending alone. The artwork is up to par with the previous limited series.
A group of survivors in Great Britain in moving north, trying to escape a group of crossed that are following them. Pretty standard procedure, but the crossed aren't known to venture so far into the cold north.
The next story happens in Florida. It involves five survivors and a crapload of profanity. Gregory survives by avoiding populated areas. He meets Steve, a woman who is ex-military and a total bitch. Leon lives in a well-defended compound populated mainly by depraved rednecks with big guns. Lastly, we have Ashlynne and Ashley, twin girls that are seen half naked in several panels - which is always a good thing in my book. Again we get an unexpected ending that ties up any loose end.
A group of survivors in Great Britain in moving north, trying to escape a group of crossed that are following them. Pretty standard procedure, but the crossed aren't known to venture so far into the cold north.
The next story happens in Florida. It involves five survivors and a crapload of profanity. Gregory survives by avoiding populated areas. He meets Steve, a woman who is ex-military and a total bitch. Leon lives in a well-defended compound populated mainly by depraved rednecks with big guns. Lastly, we have Ashlynne and Ashley, twin girls that are seen half naked in several panels - which is always a good thing in my book. Again we get an unexpected ending that ties up any loose end.
August 17, 2014
Two reviews on Crossed at the same time.. tricky... I feel like saying exactly the same thing again. I loveeeeeee this! I loved that on the first chapter we have this gore old woman, naked with boobs falling all over the place and with human heads on her hips and the way she kills the others. cool.
And this should be a reminder that I should read a book and review it right away coz I fell like I'm mixing up both volumes. I think it's in the next volume but I really liked the story about this kid that was called "yellow belly" and was a chicken shit, but i also really liked this one about this woman that was really empowered and used to serve for the military. The one with the weird guru was cool too, and the way the other guy revolts and how it ends was just freaking genius.
And this should be a reminder that I should read a book and review it right away coz I fell like I'm mixing up both volumes. I think it's in the next volume but I really liked the story about this kid that was called "yellow belly" and was a chicken shit, but i also really liked this one about this woman that was really empowered and used to serve for the military. The one with the weird guru was cool too, and the way the other guy revolts and how it ends was just freaking genius.
December 28, 2014
These at this point are entertainment value, but not a whole else more. Every story seems to end about the same, especially in this volume. Ennis is still the best writer, he seems to really get it. Everyone else is just trying to come up with the most f*cked up things they can, which is mindless entertainment, but not much else. Also, weirdly, Ennis seems to be the only one who even has decent artists-which probably just means the writers are telling the artist what needs to be focused on, but all the volumes that aren't written by Ennis are all illustrated with too much sexual focus and overtones, and it all ends up just being pretty cheap and gross without Ennis's direction behind it.
September 29, 2022
the first story in this collection was probably the best one so far, but the second one was such a piece of shit that I think I’m tapping out on this series. so boring and why exactly did the reader need to see the underage twins naked like every other page while constantly being reminded that they were children?
March 21, 2019
Ennis' writing is unassailable as ever; this rating isn't about Ennis' three-issue story, which for all its brevity is a solid 3.5 .
It's about the fact that Jamie Delano is the worst comics writer I've ever read, and regrettably authored five of the eight issues in this volume.
Twin Latina sexpots who punctuate their laughably expository and wooden dialogue with "hun" and "cutie"; an ex-intelligence femme fatale who ends every other one of her sentences with "dog" [sic] without the faintest hint of irony or self-awareness; a meandering, stakeless, cliched, and abysmally characterized narrative that limps its way through turgid violence and sexual entendre with less creative integrity than a Livejournal fan fic post, rigidly and amateurishly drawn by Leandro Rizzo.
"Homo Superior" is the only comic I've ever read whose execution was so offensively bad I actually got angry reading it.
Here are some excerpts of words a man was paid to write (constant emphases Delano's):
If you like lurid, poorly-produced artwork, hyper-stereotypical characters behaving illogically, and "dog" used as an appellation by a female character at least 20 times in a five-issue series, this is the book for you.
It's about the fact that Jamie Delano is the worst comics writer I've ever read, and regrettably authored five of the eight issues in this volume.
Twin Latina sexpots who punctuate their laughably expository and wooden dialogue with "hun" and "cutie"; an ex-intelligence femme fatale who ends every other one of her sentences with "dog" [sic] without the faintest hint of irony or self-awareness; a meandering, stakeless, cliched, and abysmally characterized narrative that limps its way through turgid violence and sexual entendre with less creative integrity than a Livejournal fan fic post, rigidly and amateurishly drawn by Leandro Rizzo.
"Homo Superior" is the only comic I've ever read whose execution was so offensively bad I actually got angry reading it.
Here are some excerpts of words a man was paid to write (constant emphases Delano's):
Screw them if they fixed it so Leon pulled night-watch again and thinks he gives a shit. Screw them if they're too dumb to know they're being played. Sure he'd pissed and moaned and acted up -- but Leon is Br'er fucking Rabbit. He likes it up here on his own, passing the hours lost in his comic-books, shuffling his tunes and tokin'. [...] Leon is in a good place-- zoned out riffing on kayak chicks with a head full of bad-ass bass. He digs the complex rhythms his race enemies lay down-- likes to play that shit loud.
"Do you think we screwed up, Ashlynne? Like, what clue do we have about wilderness survival?"
"As I recall, our chic city life burned down around our ears."
"But what are we going to eat? And like, there're animals. Alligators, and snakes-- all those pet pythons that ran wild."
"Really. Forget about the demon cannibals in boats."
"Yeah. You think that gunfire was to do with them?"
"Who knows? I'm just happy they didn't come back."
"Sorry I freaked. You know I'm not usually a weak sister. It's just--"
"Hush now. Get some sleep."
"I'll try. Snuggle up close, okay?"
"'Kay. Just one thing I have to mention, hun."
"Mmm-- what's that?"
"First thing when we wake up it's bath-time. Your vag stinks like rotten fish."
"You feel better for that?"
"Thousand percent, dog. Heh-- your hands are still shaking. Knew you were a combat virgin."
"Combat--?"
"Rules of engagement say kill 'em when you see 'em-- or else they'll kill you later. Enjoying it's a bonus. I'm not ashamed."
"Stone fucking cold, huh?"
"Not really-- just the opposite, in fact. So why don't you break out your tequila, Gregory--?" (she pulls her training bra up, single panel shot of just her breasts) "And feel the fucking heat."
Later, weird drunk and a little sick, he thinks of cats again. The sudden desperate fury of her passion was way beyond Greg's previous sexual experience. He might have enjoyed the novelty more. But it's tough to relax when you're clamped to the hilt in a kill-crazy bitch. Scared rigid her blood-lust will suck you dry.
If you like lurid, poorly-produced artwork, hyper-stereotypical characters behaving illogically, and "dog" used as an appellation by a female character at least 20 times in a five-issue series, this is the book for you.
December 14, 2023
Crossed: Badlands is the new bi-weekly ongoing series. Judging by the first two story arcs collected here in this handsome hardcover, each arc will feature a different cast of characters. What exactly are the Crossed, anyways? Still no answers six collected editions in (five if you don't count Crossed 3D OGN), and part of me hopes that we never find out the whys of it all.
Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows, the creative powerhouse team behind the original mini-series four years ago, return for the opening arc, Badlands. In it, a self-absorbed bookstore employee reveals what a prick he is. His survival is the most important thing in the world, everyone else be damned. Unlike many of the characters in these stories, you root for him to get killed.
In the second arc, Homo Superior, we are treated to a white supremacist, meth manufacturing militia compound that has done a tremendous job of making their own redneck paradise. Drugs, alcohol, inbred sex, Meth-heads, racists who enjoy Rap music ...it's all there. The other characters are a neglectful father who gets a release from the drudgery of domestic life because the Crossed killed his family, some nutjob ex-military chick, and a couple of jailbait twins. Their fates are all intertwined. The moral of the story is if something like this ever happened in real life, don't hook up with strangers.
There is no escape, no hope, no salvation, only gore fueled mayhem. There is no line of decency that the creators will not cross, no taboo off limits. Past and current themes have include incest, rape, bestiality, and child murders. I always feel ashamed of myself for enjoying this sick ass shit, and try to shower immediately after reading it to cleanse myself from this putrid filth.
Why do the signed limited edition version hardcover and the trade paperback, both released simultaneously with these “standard consumer edition” hardcovers, always have better covers? It never fails. Avatar Press hates me. Also, the volume number on the spine is very small. I think that this has caused me to develop a rash.
Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows, the creative powerhouse team behind the original mini-series four years ago, return for the opening arc, Badlands. In it, a self-absorbed bookstore employee reveals what a prick he is. His survival is the most important thing in the world, everyone else be damned. Unlike many of the characters in these stories, you root for him to get killed.
In the second arc, Homo Superior, we are treated to a white supremacist, meth manufacturing militia compound that has done a tremendous job of making their own redneck paradise. Drugs, alcohol, inbred sex, Meth-heads, racists who enjoy Rap music ...it's all there. The other characters are a neglectful father who gets a release from the drudgery of domestic life because the Crossed killed his family, some nutjob ex-military chick, and a couple of jailbait twins. Their fates are all intertwined. The moral of the story is if something like this ever happened in real life, don't hook up with strangers.
There is no escape, no hope, no salvation, only gore fueled mayhem. There is no line of decency that the creators will not cross, no taboo off limits. Past and current themes have include incest, rape, bestiality, and child murders. I always feel ashamed of myself for enjoying this sick ass shit, and try to shower immediately after reading it to cleanse myself from this putrid filth.
Why do the signed limited edition version hardcover and the trade paperback, both released simultaneously with these “standard consumer edition” hardcovers, always have better covers? It never fails. Avatar Press hates me. Also, the volume number on the spine is very small. I think that this has caused me to develop a rash.
May 8, 2022
Тепер всі наступні частини "Хрестоносців" з підзаголовком "Спустошені краї". Знову у кожній історії нові персонажі (хоча є і винятки).
Перший сюжет у цьому томі - про одинака, який і самостійно міг би виживати серед маніяків, але час від часу приєднувався до різних груп людей. До чогось хорошого це не призводило. Весь час історія ставить питання, як простіше подолати перешкоди - одному чи в компанії. І головному герою не пощастило, тому що в певний критичний момент довелося прийняти рішенні більшості, з трагічними результатами. Та думаю, навіть якби він і наважився покинути групу, фінал був би таким самим. Ще у цій історії одним з другорядних персонажів є принц Гаррі з Британської королевської сім'ї, але чи правда то - ніхто не зна, бо голова у нього обмотана бинтами. Жарти про похрещенну королеву у наявності.
Засніжені пагорби, хрестоносці у режимі полювання та непрості рішення - ось така перша історія.
Друга історія спочатку хизується одразу трьома сюжетними лініями. Спортивна жіночка та її... "раб", мабуть... шукають прихистку та ведуть розмови про минуле життя. Двійко сестер подорожують на байдарках по заболоченій річці. Юнак у таборі реднеків-виживальників не може дати собі ради та всіляко страждає від агресивного батька. В певний момент всі історії переплітаються, хтось отримує кулю, а хтось вагітний тікає від хрестоносців куди подалі. І все заради фіналу, у якому надзусилля задля збереження свого життя та життя дитини виявляються марними, навіть більше, беззмістовними.
Персонажі-хрестоносці тут виявилися набагато цікавішими, ніж звичайні люди, але їм все ж не вистачало надлюдських здібностей, як було у першому томі.
Якби не слабенькі фінали, поставив би вищу оцінку.
Перший сюжет у цьому томі - про одинака, який і самостійно міг би виживати серед маніяків, але час від часу приєднувався до різних груп людей. До чогось хорошого це не призводило. Весь час історія ставить питання, як простіше подолати перешкоди - одному чи в компанії. І головному герою не пощастило, тому що в певний критичний момент довелося прийняти рішенні більшості, з трагічними результатами. Та думаю, навіть якби він і наважився покинути групу, фінал був би таким самим. Ще у цій історії одним з другорядних персонажів є принц Гаррі з Британської королевської сім'ї, але чи правда то - ніхто не зна, бо голова у нього обмотана бинтами. Жарти про похрещенну королеву у наявності.
Засніжені пагорби, хрестоносці у режимі полювання та непрості рішення - ось така перша історія.
Друга історія спочатку хизується одразу трьома сюжетними лініями. Спортивна жіночка та її... "раб", мабуть... шукають прихистку та ведуть розмови про минуле життя. Двійко сестер подорожують на байдарках по заболоченій річці. Юнак у таборі реднеків-виживальників не може дати собі ради та всіляко страждає від агресивного батька. В певний момент всі історії переплітаються, хтось отримує кулю, а хтось вагітний тікає від хрестоносців куди подалі. І все заради фіналу, у якому надзусилля задля збереження свого життя та життя дитини виявляються марними, навіть більше, беззмістовними.
Персонажі-хрестоносці тут виявилися набагато цікавішими, ніж звичайні люди, але їм все ж не вистачало надлюдських здібностей, як було у першому томі.
Якби не слабенькі фінали, поставив би вищу оцінку.
September 18, 2023
Maybe it's because I started to get acclimated to the unhinged Crossed stories by David Lapham ("Family Values" and "Psychopath") that the two stories found in this volume seemed a little too tame. The first three-issue arc of the "Badlands" ongoing series is by series creators Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows details the disintegrating spirit of a group of survivors who clearly don't have what it takes to survive. Instead of working together, the team begin to play "weakest link" and start excising members who they feel are dragging them down. The most hilarious part of this arc is the nonchalant use of Prince Henry who serves as one of the main characters but Burrows is spared from actually drawing him since his face is permanently bandaged.
The second arc by Jamie Delano and Leandro Rizzo follows three separate groups of survivors who end up clashing in surprising ways. The characters are all distinctly unique, but I found the overall story to not really set itself apart from the previous volumes. I think there's only so many of these survivor group stories that can hold a reader's interest, and this one fell short for me. True to Crossed fashion, every character is dialed up several notches in terms of ridiculousness, which I suppose is the charm of the series, but it also makes it difficult to empathize with anyone. When they're all invariably killed by the Crossed, it begins to beg the question - do we care? I've enjoyed Crossed for its pulpy, zany twist on the genre, but I do think the lack of centralized characters diminishes the overall quality of story it can tell.
The second arc by Jamie Delano and Leandro Rizzo follows three separate groups of survivors who end up clashing in surprising ways. The characters are all distinctly unique, but I found the overall story to not really set itself apart from the previous volumes. I think there's only so many of these survivor group stories that can hold a reader's interest, and this one fell short for me. True to Crossed fashion, every character is dialed up several notches in terms of ridiculousness, which I suppose is the charm of the series, but it also makes it difficult to empathize with anyone. When they're all invariably killed by the Crossed, it begins to beg the question - do we care? I've enjoyed Crossed for its pulpy, zany twist on the genre, but I do think the lack of centralized characters diminishes the overall quality of story it can tell.
November 22, 2018
Números #1–3 (Of the World and Its Becoming, por Ennis y Burrows) 4 ESTRELLAS ☆☆☆☆
Genial y lleno de tensión. Vuelve a haber algo fresco que disminuye el nivel de saturación que estaba sufriendo la saga. Lo gore, enfermo y bizarro no debe ser lo que más resalte de la franquicia. Una historia interesante con un buen guión lo puede más. Aquí un grupo de sobrevivientes britanicos está en una cruzada mortal con pocas esperanzas de vida, se ve reflejada la verdadera naturaleza de la humanidad y la de aquellas criaturas peores que los monstruos. Tiene un final reflexivo que describe toda las emociones de los personajes y deja entrever el futuro que se espera.
Números #4-#9 (Homo Superior, por Jamie Delano and Leandro Rizzo) 3 ESTRELLAS ☆☆☆
Jamie Delano me encanta como creador de historias, tiene una de las mejores mentes escabrosas del mercado, siempre accede a las fibras nerviosas que realmente nos hacen sentir. Aquí se equivoca rotundamente en la manera de ligar historias yendo por el lado más sencillo de Crossed, lo que vende. Hay Gore y desnudos desmedidos en un punto en el que cae el ridiculo, sin ninguna justificación más allá del fan service. El punto de juntar a un grupo de un "perdedor" drogadicto, unas gemelas, una experta militar con traumas en el pasado y a un sujeto que se cree superior pero es la misma cosa que todos allí. Lo único que valoro es el final, el sufrimiento que se pasó y el buscar llegar hasta donde se alcance. Los últimos paneles son interesantes y dejan mucho que pensar. Entretenida, pero un trabajo mediocre para Delano. Se esperaba mucho más.
Genial y lleno de tensión. Vuelve a haber algo fresco que disminuye el nivel de saturación que estaba sufriendo la saga. Lo gore, enfermo y bizarro no debe ser lo que más resalte de la franquicia. Una historia interesante con un buen guión lo puede más. Aquí un grupo de sobrevivientes britanicos está en una cruzada mortal con pocas esperanzas de vida, se ve reflejada la verdadera naturaleza de la humanidad y la de aquellas criaturas peores que los monstruos. Tiene un final reflexivo que describe toda las emociones de los personajes y deja entrever el futuro que se espera.
Números #4-#9 (Homo Superior, por Jamie Delano and Leandro Rizzo) 3 ESTRELLAS ☆☆☆
Jamie Delano me encanta como creador de historias, tiene una de las mejores mentes escabrosas del mercado, siempre accede a las fibras nerviosas que realmente nos hacen sentir. Aquí se equivoca rotundamente en la manera de ligar historias yendo por el lado más sencillo de Crossed, lo que vende. Hay Gore y desnudos desmedidos en un punto en el que cae el ridiculo, sin ninguna justificación más allá del fan service. El punto de juntar a un grupo de un "perdedor" drogadicto, unas gemelas, una experta militar con traumas en el pasado y a un sujeto que se cree superior pero es la misma cosa que todos allí. Lo único que valoro es el final, el sufrimiento que se pasó y el buscar llegar hasta donde se alcance. Los últimos paneles son interesantes y dejan mucho que pensar. Entretenida, pero un trabajo mediocre para Delano. Se esperaba mucho más.
February 21, 2019
Two wildly different stories with drastically different quality.
The first story by series creators Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows is a perfect distillation of their first series. The story is a succinct and powerful tale about the horrors of living in a post-apocalyptic world and making the most difficult decisions for survival. Does morality die with society? Are your ideals only conditional? These are questions that Ennis seems to want to explore in the midst of oblique darkness.
Comparatively the story by Jamie Delano and Leandro Bizzo plays up like one dark cartoon. There is even some bizarre dark comedy at play which feels bizarre compared to the sincere realism and lack of sensationalism (by this series standards) of Ennis & Burrows. This can be enjoyable for some, but this second story beyond some mild amusement at the utter horrendousness of the protagonists is uninspired. This is more of a cartoon, and to be frank, it's not even a good one. The characters are horrendous caricatures and all are utterly terrible. This was not a good story, though it does show the strength of what Ennis does with his universe when compared to the dark excess that other writers feel compelled to indulge in.
The first story by series creators Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows is a perfect distillation of their first series. The story is a succinct and powerful tale about the horrors of living in a post-apocalyptic world and making the most difficult decisions for survival. Does morality die with society? Are your ideals only conditional? These are questions that Ennis seems to want to explore in the midst of oblique darkness.
Comparatively the story by Jamie Delano and Leandro Bizzo plays up like one dark cartoon. There is even some bizarre dark comedy at play which feels bizarre compared to the sincere realism and lack of sensationalism (by this series standards) of Ennis & Burrows. This can be enjoyable for some, but this second story beyond some mild amusement at the utter horrendousness of the protagonists is uninspired. This is more of a cartoon, and to be frank, it's not even a good one. The characters are horrendous caricatures and all are utterly terrible. This was not a good story, though it does show the strength of what Ennis does with his universe when compared to the dark excess that other writers feel compelled to indulge in.
December 5, 2025
The first story in here by Ennis is absolutely brilliant, if a bit too short for my taste. Really grounds you in Ian's perspective, and feels incredibly reserved for a Crossed story---you can see Ennis really flesh out the Crossed IP in a more mature and tactful way than his first volume. The rural Scottish setting is utterly desolate and provides a distinctly grey and bleak color palette that in my opinion fits best with the depressive tone of the Crossed aesthetic. The first story alone is in my opinion a very solid 4/5, and does everything a post-apocalyptic survival narrative ought to do, and that is providing a series of very horrific dilemmas and seeing the direct consequences of the protagonists' actions.
However, the second story in this volume failed to live up to expectations. It's raunchy, irreverent, and feels conversely very drawn out. Unlike Ian's story, it overstays it's welcome with flat characters (aside from Steve, whom I didn't *hate*, as much as got bored by how predictably awful of a person she was), aimless storylines, and a very bland conclusion. I'd still give it a 2/5 since it wasn't nearly as offensively bad as Family Values, and had some very schlocky entertainment value.
However, the second story in this volume failed to live up to expectations. It's raunchy, irreverent, and feels conversely very drawn out. Unlike Ian's story, it overstays it's welcome with flat characters (aside from Steve, whom I didn't *hate*, as much as got bored by how predictably awful of a person she was), aimless storylines, and a very bland conclusion. I'd still give it a 2/5 since it wasn't nearly as offensively bad as Family Values, and had some very schlocky entertainment value.
November 6, 2019
This volume started off really strong, and was truly a huge step up from the last volume. Badlands is a compilation of short one-off stories focusing different groups of survivors, so the nature of the stories doesn't provide us too much time to get attached to any one character or their story.
Starting the volume off with a story written by Ennis, however, was a very nice touch. His writing has been such a breath of fresh air, and I was honestly disappointed that his writing wasn't featured in any of the other stories in this volume.
The third story in this volume also features an appearance from Crossed: Psychopath's very own Harold Lorre, which seemed odd, out of place, and a bit ham-fisted. It didn't necessarily add much to the story, and seemed to be included simply for a throwback effect for readers to go "Oh hey, I know that guy!"
Here's to hoping that Ennis is the featured writing more often in the coming volumes!
Starting the volume off with a story written by Ennis, however, was a very nice touch. His writing has been such a breath of fresh air, and I was honestly disappointed that his writing wasn't featured in any of the other stories in this volume.
The third story in this volume also features an appearance from Crossed: Psychopath's very own Harold Lorre, which seemed odd, out of place, and a bit ham-fisted. It didn't necessarily add much to the story, and seemed to be included simply for a throwback effect for readers to go "Oh hey, I know that guy!"
Here's to hoping that Ennis is the featured writing more often in the coming volumes!
January 30, 2023
Here we go back with the last volume in the Crossed saga that I own. This is a return to form with the Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows team as well as Jamie Delano and Leandro Rizzo. Writing is solid, art is as well. This is a far departure from Psychopath as this follows a pair of groups, one in the Scottish highlands and the other in Florida. Both are being hunted and harried by the Crossed. They deal with it in different ways, both heroic and tragic. Don't look for a happy ending here. This is Garth Ennis and this story is devoid of much hope. It is solid and that's why I like it. There is no following the normal recipe for horror comics here. What you see and read is fluid and makes you cringe as much as it makes you cheer (in places). Looking forward to volume 5 when I can get a copy. Again, reader beware: Not For Children!
-Danny
-Danny
September 28, 2017
Ormai il gioco di Crossed inizia a mostrare la corda. Non che smetta di essere in qualche modo interessante (ecco, viene strano scrivere la parola, considerando il tipo di fumetto), ma comunque le tematiche sono quelle, e gli autori devono inventarsi qualcosa, o la faccenda rischia di piegarsi su se stessa. In questo numero: Ennis e Delano ci mostrano due trasformazioni in mostri. Se la prima pare riecheggiare storie analoghe già viste (al di là del finale), nella seconda c'è qualcosa di peggio: tre donne che decidono di sopravvivere, senza mutilarsi, e crescere un cucciolo umano (ammesso che il cucciolo lo rimanga). Ecco, forse questo è un minimo spiraglio per far andare avanti la serie nel futuro. Vedremo.
November 8, 2022
These are the first 9 books (two full stories).
Full of disgusting human beings - almost worse that the crossed. IF you have watch the previous this are no way different. Let me just talk about the second tale, about a woman who is surviving alone, after some sex (not rape). Then they met other people and she birth a child and some strange stuff happens.
Here we see the crossed a bit different to be honest and it felt odd - supposedly crossed are nihilistic and depraved, we haven't seen them made some deep choices OR bargain but here we see it a bit and i felt odd.
Either way - interesting
Full of disgusting human beings - almost worse that the crossed. IF you have watch the previous this are no way different. Let me just talk about the second tale, about a woman who is surviving alone, after some sex (not rape). Then they met other people and she birth a child and some strange stuff happens.
Here we see the crossed a bit different to be honest and it felt odd - supposedly crossed are nihilistic and depraved, we haven't seen them made some deep choices OR bargain but here we see it a bit and i felt odd.
Either way - interesting
February 27, 2019
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS THIS SERIES FOR CHILDREN, TWEENS OR TEENS. STRICTLY ADULT.
TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE, MURDER, CANNIBALISM, RAPE, INCEST RAPE
I am the kind of person that likes the most messed up things aka shock value. This series has it and it hides literally nothing. As I pride myself in my PC moral ways this is in no shape or form pc.
This was honestly my least favorite so far, seriously forgettable characters, seemed more drama based than actual story, and i also hate southern/hick horrors. There wasn't even really any good shock value in this one.
TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE, MURDER, CANNIBALISM, RAPE, INCEST RAPE
I am the kind of person that likes the most messed up things aka shock value. This series has it and it hides literally nothing. As I pride myself in my PC moral ways this is in no shape or form pc.
This was honestly my least favorite so far, seriously forgettable characters, seemed more drama based than actual story, and i also hate southern/hick horrors. There wasn't even really any good shock value in this one.
March 1, 2024
This was pretty fun. Much better than the previous book I read (V8). This contains two 4ish issue stories.
The first is written by Ennis, which is the superior of them. It has a decent cast of characters and makes you think about a few things. The art is pretty good for this one.
The second story is fun too, but much less serious feeling. It’s got lots of tits and blood if you’re into that. The pacing was pretty good for it as well.
The first is written by Ennis, which is the superior of them. It has a decent cast of characters and makes you think about a few things. The art is pretty good for this one.
The second story is fun too, but much less serious feeling. It’s got lots of tits and blood if you’re into that. The pacing was pretty good for it as well.
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